More than 100 people relocated from camps to Austin homeless shelters

AUSTIN (KXAN) — More than 100 people experiencing homelessness in Austin were relocated into shelters this week.

Encampments at Stephenson Nature Preserve, Springdale Neighborhood Park, Lorraine "Grandma" Camacho Activity Center, and the West Rundberg neighborhood near the areas of the North Austin YMCA and at Masterson Pass were all closed.

According to the city of Austin, 95 unhoused residents were relocated to the Northbridge and Southbridge shelters, and 20 others were taken to the Marshalling Yard Emergency Shelter.

The Marshalling Yard shelter provides daily transportation services, three meals per day, laundry services, showering facilities and more, according to the city.

"They are dealing with all kinds of stuff, mental health, drug abuse, being unhoused," said Antony Jackson, CEO of We Can Now.

We Can Now is a boots-on-the-ground nonprofit that helps connect people experiencing homelessness with the resources they need.

"The longer they are out on the street the worse it is for them," Jackson said. "Sometimes we are catching these people four and five years chronically homeless."

Jackson said he has been pleased with the recent progress to help those who are experiencing homelessness, but he admits more still needs to be done.

"Our brothers and sisters out there that are experiencing homelessness and mental health issues are out there and really really bad," Jackson said. "I personally would like to see more resources and opportunities for them."

In 2021, The city launched the HEAL initiative and opened the Northbridge and Southbridge shelters.

Since then, the city has moved people out of encampments and into these spaces. KXAN wanted to know how the city tracks the program and how it works. We have not been given an answer at this time. We will update this if a statement is received.

"So when we ascend an encampment into shelter and then we see two or three days later or a week go by and we see those same people back on the streets, we are very concerned," Jackson said.

He said the solutions to ending homelessness are complex, especially for those who have become used to living without structure or a roof over their head.

"They are not used to being back in four walls. They are having a hard time dealing with that, so wrap around services are needed," Jackson said.

According to the city, 17 individuals were relocated to the Southbridge shelter from the Stephenson Nature Preserve. At that location there was more than 31,000 pounds of trash and debris cleaned up.

Also, the Homeless Strategy Office and Hungry Hill Foundation connected 21 individuals to the Northbridge and Southbridge shelters from the Springdale Neighborhood Park. Austin Resource Recovery cleared more than 9,100 pounds of trash and debris from the park.

Jackson said he is always looking for volunteers to help serve the community and meet the people who are experiencing homelessness. For more information on the nonprofit, visit the We Can Now website.